Let’s say it: Chicago Cubs Nico Hoerner is a spectacular baseball player. A lot of people knew it. Cubs’ fans hoped he would be, and even naysayers admitted he at least looked the part of a big-league ballplayer way back in spring training. At just 21 years of age, and with many big-league infielders seemingly blocking his ascendance earlier this year, few thought we would see him up with the Cubs in 2019.
Fewer still thought he would get regular starts or be thrust into a starting role down the stretch in a pennant race.
Here we are on September 15th, and Hoerner is the Chicago Cubs’ starting shortstop.